What's in our Car Town garage today? (March 23, 2014)

What's in our Car Town garage today?

1996 McLaren F1 LM

The LM version pushes the McLaren F1 to the very edge of its life and it's inspired by the F1 GTR that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995. It maybe a road-legal version of the GTR racer, the F1 LM features the same 6.1L BMW V12 engine but with reduced weight so that the top speed is 225mph. Only five units were sold, each costs over 4 million US Dollars.

1996 McLaren F1 LM

1984 Ferrari Testarossa

Still one of the most iconic exotics in the past century, the Testarossa is notable for featuring a boxer-12 engine that was carried from the Berlinetta Boxer. The Colombo boxer-12 engine rigged to the middle produces 396PS of power and can do 0-100kph in 5.3 seconds. Top speed is about 290kph. Apart from its high-performance output, the Testarossa is still one of the sexiest cars ever to be designed by Pininfarina.

1984 Ferrari Testarossa

1965 Ford Thunderbird Convertible

In its time, the Thunderbird from Ford is the best in class where the Buick Riviera and and Pontiac Grand Prix was positioned at and for this fourth-generation model, this Thunderbird tries to stay classy in its class. Available as a coupe and a convertible, it's available in either a 6.4L V8 or a 7.0L V8 with different flavors. Legend has it, it was the car of choice for Duncan Macleod in the Highlander TV series.

1965 Ford Thunderbird Convertible

The New MINI (F56)

Once upon a time in 1959, the Mini compact was born and the design penned by Sir Alec Issigonis is a timeless masterpiece. Everyone loves this because of its timeless looks and compact sizing as well as its athletic characteristics. Fast forward to present day and Mini has been evolved into the piece you see it now. When BMW took over the responsibilities for the new Mini, the modern remake shares nothing from the old Mini Cooper. Now that it reached the third-generation model, codenamed F56, the New Mini is less of a Mini, more of a...Wumbo. If you don't know what in the word is Wumbo, well go ask Patrick from SpongeBob. You know? I wumbo...you wumbo...he, she, me wumbo...wumbo...wumboing...wumbology! The study of wumbo! That's first grade!

2015 Mini hatch

At first glance, you might think that this latest Mini is a bit more of a facelift but YOU ARE WRONG. VERY WRONG because everything's brand new from every nook and cranny...well almost because that's the way the Mini looks like through the years but anyway, since the new model is now bigger than the last model, perhaps the engineers from BMW had a degree of wumbology and again, such size should no longer be called a Mini anymore and it should have been called Wumbo. Uhh...did they set it to wumbo?

2015 Mini hatch interior

2015 Mini hatch interior

Apart from being a wumbo on the sizing department, looks like wumbo gets a new interior and for some purists, it seems all wrong because the new model's speedometer is now on the driver's side rather than being on a center like most Minis had through the years. They're not very pleased by this because the center console where the speedo used to be is now been occupied by the radio or sat-nav depending on the variant. If the new layout on the dashboard doesn't bother if you're more of a casual type of person, there's a lot of explanation to do once you're inside the new Mini because even though the dashboard's feel all wrong, the seats are all nice and friendly and because this car is bigger than the old one, you can really fit your mates especially at the back but as a warning, you can't bring your big momma to the back because. well that's the reason why is their a big momma in the scenario, she can't squeeze herself in.

So, what about the way it behaves? Well, even though a wumbo in the dimensions stake, the new Mini is still quite an enjoyable car to drive if you're free and even in the high-end Cooper S model, loaded with the 2.0L petrol engine producing 192PS of power and 300Nm of torque, you really can't tell. The entry-level One comes with either a 1.3L petrol or a 1.5L diesel engine while the normal Mini Cooper comes with either s 1.5L petrol engine or a 1.5L diesel engine. All of those engines are turbocharged but whichever variant you chose, the Mini is still as casual as a modern Fiat 500 or a modern VW Beetle. Those modern remakes of all-time classics may not be more sensible for the purists but I think they can still take the time and the effort to join the club if you had admission.

2015 Mini hatch

Back to the Cooper S model of the Mini, this car, in its manual gearbox configuration, can do 0-100kph in 6.8 seconds and flatout in 235kph. That's quite impressive if you're going to outrun a wheelchair rigged with fire extinguishers and with the combined fuel economy of about 17.5km/L (5.7L/100km), it's still a frugal car as well. I am humbled by the way this new Mini behaves judging by the way it behaves like a hot hatch and how it still got its charisma retained from the last model.

Price-wise and since this is a BMW-made machine, I'd expect this to be quite an expensive hatchback...but I was wrong-ish. The base One starts at 17,450 Euros up to 23,800 Euros for the Cooper S model. It's a smart buy for casual drivers but it's not quite as reasonably-priced as the Beetle or the 500.

In conclusion; the new Mini maybe more of a Wumbo and the interior looks a bit all wrong judging by the trademark Mini center speedo is gone and the speedo is now centered on the driver's side rather than the center because this is where the radio is now located at, it's still worth a humble machine that will make you feel humbled at the end of the day. Thanks to the new turbocharged engine and the new UKL1 platform, the new Mini is still a game-changing city car that truly lives in the Mini tradition of NOT NORMAL. This is the NEW NORMAL, after all.

Photo: MINI

Let's Do The News! (March 22, 2014)

The big scoop today...

- IN CASED YOU MISSED THIS: After three seasons, Disney's hit comedy series, ANT Farm, recently ended with the final episode titled "the new york experiANTS". In the finale, Roshon Fegan from Shake It Up is the guest star. China Anne McClain, the young actress who played Chyna Parks in the series, said that it's great working with Roshon in the finale. So, with the series well and truly over, it's hard to say goodbye to the music-loving Chyna, brainiac Olive (played by Sierra McCormick), artistic Fletcher (played by Jake Short), and a drama queen rival Lexi (played by Stefanie Scott) among many others. It's been one heck of a ride being an ANT (Advanced Natural Talent).

- Strong demand for the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class prompts the German luxury car maker to add a third shift at the Kecskemét plant in Hungary.

- Check out the BMW M4's M Lap Timer App in action during a hot lap in Brands Hatch.



- A special edition Cadillac ATS Crimson Sport Edition was announced and it's scheduled to be on sale late this month.

- Newly appointed GM CEO Mary Barra will testify at the US House of Representatives next month over the bad case of General Motors' mass recall over faulty ignitions.

- A Filipino-American teenager, named Alexander Casquejo, was arrested and charged for trespassing when he sneaked into the top of 1 World Trade Center in New York City and spent two hours at the base of antenna taking pics.

- My Husband's Lover, one of last year's most notable TV drama to be aired on GMA featuring a love team of Tom Rodriguez and Dennis Trillo, won the Golden Screen Awards in the Drama category. PEP reports.

- The Armed Forces of the Philippines are standing by to resume the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 plane. The search continues...

- A 28-year-old Fil-Am woman fell from a 28th floor of a Pasig condominium.

- IT'S SHOWTIME SYNERGY! One of the most memorable cartoon shows in the last century, Jem and the Holograms, will spawn a movie version and Jon M. Chu from G.I. Joe Retaliation will be in charge of directing the Jem movie. The production is still in early stages and he states that he and his crew are looking for fan videos submitted to their Tumblr site (http://jemthemovie.tumblr.com/).

TTFN!!!

Divergent

Young adult books, they have always been the craze for every young people right now and such examples like the Twilight saga or The Hunger Games are proven so popular, they spawned movie franchises like every other books converted into films that shares a little with the original formats. Now, 2014 sees the arrival of another one of those kind of books turned movies and this movie is based on the worldwide bestseller written by Veronica Roth. It's about a choice that will truly change your life forever. A choice that denies your beliefs, a choice determines your loyalties - forever, and a choice that CAN TRANSFORM YOU. It's the book Publishers Weekly states that it's a memorable, unpredictable journey from which it is nearly impossible to turn away.

Divergent

Based on a phenomenal best-seller, Divergent is set on a post-apocalyptic Chicago after a series of wars that changed the world. In the world of Divergent, the society is divided into five factions dedicated to the cultivation of a virtue; Candor (honest), Abnegation (selfless), Dauntless (brave), Amity (peaceful), and Erudite (intelligent). For the main character named Beatrice (played by Shailene Woodley), she's neither of those factions because she possesses different virtues that is too enigmatic and classified herself as, you guessed it, a DIVERGENT. Desperate to keep her status a secret, she renamed herself as Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live on their choices.

Unlike any other movies based on young adult books, Divergent is quite a unique masterpiece to watch. Even though you find it to be poorly sorted and covers most but not all parts of the book, this movie can't be outlooked in the middle of your viewing pleasure. From dystopic thrills, risky decisions, unexpected romance, and the cliffhanger that will leave you breathless, Divergent really raises the bar to give fans the most exhilarating moments they ever heard of from the book.

Even though Shailene is proven to be a rising actress, she really managed to pull one out from the box and like the character, she is quite a fiercer, braver, and tougher actress ever to be appeared on the film and with Theo James keeping up with the love chemistry and Kate Winslet portraying a villain, this movie really knows what it should be.

It's all about following your choices, facing risky situations, think of your partner, and take precautions. Divergent really revs up the Spring movie lineup but it can be quite as deceptive as a bad relationship but better still, you can't overlook this in a middle of nowhere.

If you're planning to watch one, go a find out what the critics are raving about Divergent.

My rating: 3 out of 5.

Disney's Muppets Most Wanted

Three years ago, the Muppets, one of Jim Henson's memorable masterpieces, returned to their former glory courtesy of Disney and just as we thought we forgot about our childhood favorites, we were wrong because the Muppets are back for good. Really good. In 2014, the Muppets returned with their most hilarious escapade to date and for a quick heads-up, this will surely get wibbly-wobbly, if you know what I mean.

Muppets Most Wanted

It's called Muppets Most Wanted and this winy sequel sees everyone's favorite TV puppets, the Muppets, going on a globetrotting trip of a lifetime as they'll being doing a world tour but then...there's a twist! Their new manager is a criminal who works with the world's number one criminal, Constantine! Who is Constantine you may asked? He looks just like Kermit the Frog but you can tell that's him with the mole in his face and his hideous tone of his voice but it wasn't easy because Constantine truly blends himself as Kermit and his evil plan was to steal a priceless treasure and put the blame on the Muppets!

With Kermit behind bars, it's a race against time to clear his name, save the Muppets, and stop Constantine's evil plan before it's too late!

All your favorite Muppets, from Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear (the one that goes wakka-wakka!), Miss Piggy, Animal, Gonzo, Walter, Swedish Chef, and many others have once again back to the silver screen and look at them, aren't they as fresh as their comeback three years ago? But still, Most Wanted isn't a Muppets movie without the participation of celebs joining the cast just for the fun of it. They had Ricky Gervais (from the original UK version of The Office) playing the role of Dominic Badguy, the guy who booked the Muppets for a world tour only to be revealed as Constantine's right-hand man, 30 Rock's Tina Fey as Nadya the prison guard who reluctantly joins Kermit in an effort to clear his name and save the Muppets before getting framed by his doppleganger, and Ty Burrell as Jean Pierre Napoleon, an Interpol agent who's following the trail of Constantine.

In tradition, Muppets Most Wanted features some very special cameo appearance by some of the best-loved celebs such as Thor's Tom Hiddleston, Good Luck Charlie's Bridgit Mendler, Austin and Ally's Ross Lynch, Salma Hayek, Celine Dion, and many others. Can you spot the special guests in the movie?

Anyway, while this is considered the sequel to 2011's Muppets movie and by the line that "they've ordered a sequel", it doesn't feel as cheery as any other Muppets movies from the past but when things get even more offbeat, it surely keeps you hanging just for fun.

One thing I find this movie to be somewhat corny is the songs in the movie because as I expected, it promised to be more cheery and offbeat but it's a bit too corny and a bit too...dry.

But still, despite some holes that needs to be filled, Most Wanted is probably one of the good picks to watch for the weekends. You can bring the kids to watch this film on your free time, too! I'm sure those kids would enjoy seeing Kermit the Frog and the Muppets once again.

My rating: 3.4 out of 5.

Gandang Umaga!

On the March 21, 2014 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Graduation day gags

- Arguments spoken in Kapampangan!

- IKAW AT ANG INA takes on...making your new account because your old account is a mess!!!

- Say what? Who's involved in the fight? This is confusing!!!

- Bubble Gang does Lucky Me Mami by spoofing this commercial as LUCKY VI MAMI! Gandang umaga!

- Tata Lino is always there for some wise words for you.

- Lost on a deserted island, the survivors are struggling for...something!

- Istambay, Istambay Sa Looban, Ang syota ni Fernan ay stuntwoman, magaling sa karate at suntukan, kaya s'yang ipagtanggol sa...GULPIHAN?

- Let's make a siopao!

- A STARPOK interview with Bert Maligaya!

- This guy's afraid of the plants!

Annaliza: Ang Pamamaalam

On the last days of Annaliza, we witnessed our main titular character Annaliza (Andrea Brillantes) risking her family from the crutches of Makoy (Carlo Aquino) and Stella (Kaye Abad) no matter the circumstances. With Makoy finally dead and Annaliza sacrificed herself to save Stella from the fires despite her hatred to her, Annaliza's safe and Stella finally apologized to Annaliza for her brutal wrongdoings. After that, Annaliza and her real mother, Isabel (Denise Laurel) left to America. You get the idea but...

Now for the final episode of Annaliza...

Two years has passed since Annaliza and Isabel left to America for their new lease of life but the person she really misses a lot is her biological father Guido (Zanjoe Marudo). But then, good things happen. Isabel told Annaliza that they'll be coming back!

At the airport, Gudio, his friends, and Annaliza's friends as well as her stepsister Arlene were present but then, Arlene told the shocking news that the airplane where Annaliza and Isabel were on it...has gone missing or just so we thought. Upon hearing the bad news, Guido felt saddened until the appearance of Annaliza and a happy reunion between them.

With the sudden reappearance of Isabel, the happiest moment happened when Guido proposed Isabel, finally. Everyone was very excited to see this coming!

After that, Isabel finally married Guido as her new husband and the family Annaliza wished for finally came true at the end.

Annaliza ending

And that concludes the modern remake of Annaliza. Looks like the drama's storyline is finally completed, the one where the classic version didn't tried since the original Annaliza actress, Julie Vega, died and thanks to Andrea Brillantes' class act as the modern Annaliza, this ending is more of a proper tribute to the original.